Sofa bed



4 Sheets-Sfieet 1 INVENTOR. flzwwxi I W OZZQP BY 5 Y I WV ATTORNEYS.

July 4, 19 44. E. E. WOLLER SOFA BED Filed Sept. 8, 1941 y 1944- E. E. WOLLER' 2,352,989

1 son BED Filed Sept. 8, 1941 4 sheets sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Zdwardl 7%0Zer V M ATTORNEY 5.

July 4, 1944.

E. E. WOLLER 2,352,989

SOFA BED Filed Sept. 8, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

[mm/dz: Waller WP W ATTORNEYS.

July 4, 1944. WOLLER 2,352,989

' W, fwf-m- ATTORNEY S.

Patented July 4, 1944 SOFA BED some a. Waller, Kenolha, Wia, assignor to Simmons Company, a corporation of Delaware application September a, 1941, Serial No. 09,951

8 Claims. (01. -1:)

This invention relates to improvements in sofa beds, and has particular reference to a construction embodying a series of foldably connected mattress or cushion-supporting, spring sections which are adapted to be folded into seat or sofaforming position and to be withdrawn and unfolded to form a bed.

The main objects of the present invention are to provide a sofa bed of the character indicated, wherein the folding and unfolding movement may be easily and quickly accomplished; to provide such a structure in which the foldable bed parts will be adequately and rigidly maintained in bed position; to provide such a structure in which the parts, when folded to sofa position, will be more or less locked against unfolding, but nevertheless readily unfoldable when properly manipulated; to provide an arrangement in which the foldable sections are positively guided to their fully folded position; and in general it is the object of the invention to provide an improved sofa bed of the character indicated. e

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood by reference to. the following specification and accompanying drawings ,(4

sheets) in which there is disclosed a sofa bed I embodying a selected form of the invention.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective illustrating the sofa bed herein contemplated, the extended or bed position thereof bein indicated in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the structure on a plane approximately as indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. v

Fig. 3' is a side elevation with one of the end arms removed to reveal the structural details,.

certain other portions being broken away to more clearly illustrate the construction.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation illustrating the fully extended position.

Figs. 10 and 11 are plan sections respectively on the lines Ill-l0 and l ll I of Fig.9.

The improved sofa bed structure herein disclosed embodies a normally stationary frame structure comprising approximately horizontal end members such as indicated at 20, the same being secured to wood or other side frames provided with legs 2| for supporting the structure on the floor. The end members 20 may be of angle iron form and they are rigidly connected by longitudinally extending front and rear frame members 22 and 23 respectively. Comer braces such as indicated at 24 may be employed for adding. rigidity to the horizontal bottom frame formed by the members 20, 22 and 23.

At the front of the horizontal frame there is provided at each end an upright post 25, the same being suitably braced by angularly extending braces as shown. At the back of the-structure there are provided upwardly and rearwardly extending frame members, such asshown at 26,

the same being also suitably braced by angularly extending braces as shown. A normally stationary back cushion 21 may be permanently mounted and supported bya forwardly and downwardly constructed frame structure embodyin end members 28, and lower horizontally disposed connecting member 23 and a horizontally disposed top connecting member 30 which serves toconnect both the end members 23 and the end members 26. As shown, the upper ends of the back cushion frame members 23 are bent. rearwardly to provide a short horizontal top leg 3| to provide a desired amount of horizontal depth behind the back structure. v r

The foldable bed bottom structure, which also forms the seat of the sofa bed, comprises in this instance four sections respectively designated 32, 33, 34 and 35. The respectively adjacent ends of such sections are pivotally connected together as indicated at 36, 31 and 38. Each of these sections embody angle iron side members and the side members of the section 32 are rigidly interconnected adjacent one end thereof by means of a connecting member 33. The side members of the section 33 are interconnected by means of a member 40 which is offset downwardly from the plane of the end members so as to avoid interference with the normal sagging of the bed spring fabric For pivotally connecting together the sections 33 and 3!, bars such at 42 are rigidly attached to the members 33 and extend beyond the ends thereofsoastooverlaptheverticalflangesof the members ll. The pivot connection 31 is then eifected through said overlapping parts.

Thesectionl constitutestheseatsectionin that when the structure is folded, the seat cushions are supported by said section. The side membersof said scat section 35 are inverted with respect to the disposition of the side members of the other sections so that the horizontal flanges thereof extmd inwardly from the upper edgesofthesidemembersinsteadoffromthe lower edges. Said side members of the seat section 35 arealso dlsposedin ofisetrelationtothe plane oi'thesections l2, 3! and llwheninextended or bed position. For pivotaily connecting thesectionsilandlltherearerigidlyattached.

to the side members of the section bars such as indicated at 43, the same having extended end portions bent outwardly to provide oifset portions 44 which are adapted to engage the inside faces of bracket members such as indicated atHwhicharesecuredioanddepend fromthe side members of the seat section when in bed position. The pivot connection 3! is, as shown, eifected between the bracket 45 and portion ll of the bar 13. As indicated, the side members of the section 35 are spaced outwardly somewhat from the plane of the side members of the other sections, the purpose of such outward spacing being that of 'increasing'the side to side dimension of said seat section so that it will snugb fit between the side arms of the sofa structure,

'whereasthesections 32,33 and Slwillbemovends flattened and bent upwardly for attachment to the side members or be otherwise connected in any suitable manner.

The inner or head end of the section 32 is supported by means of a of hangers or links I! and II, the lower ends of which are pivotally connected as shown at I! and 5| respectiveh to angleironextensions 5Iwhichareinia1mrigid1y secured to the side members of the section 32. The upper end of the link 48 is curved as shown and is pivotally connected at 52 to a plate 53 which is rigidly mounted on the cushion supporting frame 28 and on a strut 54 which extends between the lower end of said frame 28 and the adjacent upright rear member 26.

For supporting a portion of the mattress 55 when the siructure is in folded or sofa position, there is provided at each side of the structure an arm 56 pivotally mounted co-axially with the pivot connection I! on the extensions 5]. Said arms 56 are connected by a longitudinal member 51. The frame-like extension structure comprising the parts 55 and 51 is rockable about the pivot mounting 45 and its position is controlled by links such as indicated at 50, the lower ends of which are pivoted as shown at 55 to the free aids of the arms 55 and the upper ends of which are pivoted as indicated at 55 to the plates 53.

The section 53 is supported by its pivot connection 36 to the section 32, by a link 6] and by a leg 52. The link 5! is pivoted at its lower end, as shown at 53, to the stationary bottom frame its upper endit is pivoted as shown at N to the adjacent side member of the section 33. The pivot molmting 58 is preferably provided by securingthelowerendofthelinkfl toarod or shaft 55 which is suitably iournalled in brackets florthelikecarriedbysaidbottomframeso tint rocking movement of the links I at. oppo site sides of the structure will be simultaneous and uniform, thereby preventing any tendency of the parts to assume a cramping relationship.

'lheurper end of the link" is bent and extended downwardly, as shown at 51, and it is connectedbymeansofalinkii totheleg 62. The leg 52 is pivotally mounted at its upper end. as shown at II, on the bar I! and side member of the section 33.

The shcut section it constitutes a. hinge section for connecting the sections 38 and 35 and the outer or free end of the section 35 is supported at each side by a leg II which is pivotally secmedatitsupperend,asshownatli,tothe side member of the section 35.

The legs 52 and II at each side of the structure are intercamected by means of links I2 and I3 and an intervening front board structure ll. Said front board structure 14 comprises a suitable angle iron framework embodyin side pieces l5 and a longitudinally extending end connecting piece 15, said parts 15 and i5 constituting a frame to which a front board or upholstering panel TI is secured. The side members 15 of said front board structure are provided with arms, such as shown at 15, which are pivotally attached at theirfree ends, as shown at I, to the side mem- 35 bersofthesectlonfl. Thesidemembers l5 and arms II are formed integrally or are rigidly connected and said side members 15 constitute link connections between the links 12 and 13.

The bed spring fabric 4. is preferably of a 0 suitable wire link construction in the sections :2,

' 33 and II. In the section 35, a suitable textile fabric material II is preferably employed, said fabricbeingstretchedbetweenthewirelinkfabrlc 4| and the longitudinal cross-member 45.

5 Suitable coil springs II are employed for resiliently supporting the wire bed fabric structure in the respective sections and coil springs 82 similarly support the outer end of the textile fabric II. A coil spring I! is also stretched between the bracket member 45 and the adjacent corner oi the textile fabric portion ll of the mattress fabric to resiliently support such corner in its proper position, so that seat cushions supported at all points.

Coil springs, such as indicated at ll, interconnect a pardon of the link 5i adjacent its pivot with a stationary part such as the upper end front corner post 25. When the structure is extended to bed position, as shown in Figs. 9 and 11, the spring .4 is under tension.

Toclmethestructmei. e.tofolditfrombed position to sofa position, the outer or free end of the section 35 is moved upwardly and inwardly unfll it reaches an approximately vertical position, as shown in Fig. 8. Such movement of the section 35 relative to the sections 33 and I4 and the leg 52 serves to initiate folding movement of the leg II, this being the result of the link connections l2, l5 and 13 between the legs 52 and II and the arm connection ll between the link I5 and section 35.

. Continuing the folding movement of the bed structure, the section 35 is rocked inwardly and c e co p sin t e pa ts and 2 and at downwardly, this time about the pivot connection 33 being caused to assume an approximately vertical position and the section 33 an approximately horizontal, inverted position, as best shown inFis.'l.

The folding movement of the section 33 relative to the section 3315 limited by engagement of the plate portion 33 of the bracket 43 with the end 33 of the bar 33. Folding movement of the section 33 relative to the section 33 is limited by means of a bar 3| which 'is pivoted at one end, as shown at 33, to the section 34 intermediate its ends and slidably mounted, as shown at 33 in a slot 33 provided in the side member of the section 33. When the section 33 reaches its vertical position, the sliding connection of the member 31 with the side member of the section 33 is at one limit of its movement. Said member 31 also serves in the unfolded or extended position of the sections to limit the unfolding movement of the section 33 relative to the section 33' inci-' dent to the engagement of its sidewise extending flange with the upper edges of the side members of the sections 33 and 33, as clearly shown inv Fig. 9. It will. be observed thatbecause of this stop for the unfolding movement of the section 34 relative to the section 33, said section 34 is effectively supported by the leg 32, and in turn is capable of supporting the end of the section 33 which is connected thereto.

Incident to the folding of the section 33 to its horizontal position, the link connections I2, I3 and I3 serve to effect further folding of the leg 13 and to cause the front .board 13 to approach a position in parallel relation closely adjacent the front or outside of the then vertical section 33 (see Fig. 7).

Completion of the folding of the bed structure is eifected by lifting the front ends of the sections 33 and 33 upwardly and simultaneously moving the same inwardly. Such upward and inward movement is guided by the link 3| in cooperation with the links 31 and 33 and the inner or head section 32. It will be observed that the double link support "and 33 for the bed section 32 positively controls the path of movement of said section 32 so that'the end of the section 32 which is connected to the section 33 will exercise a controlling influence on the path through which the section 33 moves in its folding and unfolding movements. The spring 34 assists the tress u will be shifted endwise toward the-head end of the structure, 1. e.. toward the back-rest of the sofa. As indicated Fig. 9, the mattress 33 may be of substantial t ckness and it is preferably formed in three sections, 3|, 32 and 33, having hinge connections 33 and 33 which permit the mattress to be folded. The section is preferably tied by suitable tapes or the likestitched to the same to the bed spring section 33, so that the mattress section will not separate from the bed spring section duringthe-folding and unfolding operation. The attachment of the mattress section 3| to the bed spring section 33 should. however, be suiliciently loose to permit a slight amount of lateral shiftingof the mattress section 3| relative to the bed section 33. as may be required during the folding and unfolding movements. As herein shown, the mattress is of such thickness that when the section 3| is folded into overlying relation to the section 32 (see Fig. 2) it occupies substantially all of the space between the portion of the bed spring fabric 3| in the bed section 33 and the textile fabric portion 3| in the section 33. As shown in Fig.2, the mattress must be moved endwise a distance approximating the length of the hinge section 33 since no portion of the thickness of the mattress remains parallel to said section in the folded position of the bed bottom structure. Similarly, some additional endwise movement of the mattress relative to the bed spring fabricv is necessitated by the angular position of the mattress section 33 relative to the section 32, wherein a portion of the bed spring fabric adjacent the hinge connection 33 is bared. The pivot frame extension parts 33 and 31 serve to support the upper end portion of the mattress section 33 in operator in performing the completion of the folding movement in that said spring tends to rock the link 3| in a counterclockwise. direction, as viewed in Figs. 6 and 7. When the folded: bed structure reaches an inclined position, such as 11- lustrated-in Fig. 6, the weight of the structure then tends to continue the movement without assistance from the operator and such gravity effected movement is checked or cushioned by the spring 33, which is so arranged that it will necessarily be stretched during the final portions of the folding movement. By examination of Figs. 3 and 6 it will be seen that the section 32 is caused, in the folding movement, to move into an upwardly extending position behind the back rest frame 23.

33, 34 and 33 in the manner explained, the matfolded position, so as to maintain the same within the confines of the back-rest structure, as clearly shown in Fig. i. said supporting structure, the mattress might tend to fold rearwardly about the then uppermost cross-member 33 of the bed section 32.

The folding movement of the section 33 relative to the section 33 is limited, or in other words, the free end portion of the section 33 is supported in approximately parallel folded relation to the section 33 (as shown in Figs. 2 and 3) by means of a roller 33 or other suitable provision on the end of the link extension 31. Said roller 33 in the illustrated construction may be mounted co-axially with the pivot connection between the said link extension 31 and the link 33 and it is of such size that it will engage the bottom surface of the adjacent side frame member of the section-33. It will be apparent that the arm 31 and link 3| are effectively held against rocking movement under the weight of the section '33 by reason of the pivot connection 33 between the linfk 3| and the stationary frame structure of the so a.

To positively hold the rearward or free end of the seat section 33 in its seat position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, there is provided at the free end of the section 33 a laterally extending headed stud or post 31, the same being so located that it is adapted to engage the bottom edge 33 of the plate 33. The stud 31 moves into place under the edge of the plate 33 without special manipulation and merely as an incident to the folding of the structure, as already explained.

Incident to the final folding movement of the structure, the leg 32 is folded inwardly under the same, as will be apparent by comparison of Figs. 2 and 3 with Fig. 6, such folding of the le being In the absence of the eflected by reason of the link connection I between said leg 62 and the end of the link extension 61. The front end of the folded bed bottom structure is supported by direct engagement of the then lower end 89 of the side member of the section 34 with the upper edge of the front frame member 22 and said hinge section 34 i'ectively eliminated. It will be observed that the arrangement is such that the roller 96 forces the inner or rear end of the seat section 35 upwardly so that its stud 91 firmly engages the bottom edge 88 of the plate 83.

Various changes in the described structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which should be determined by reference-to the following claims, the

The textile fabric portion ll of the bed spring fabric is well adapted to support suitable seat cushions, such as indicated at Hill, the same being removably placed on said textile fabric bed spring portion 8|. To cover the wire link portion of the bed spring fabric at the front portion of the seat section, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, there is provided a textilefabric continuation IM of the textile fabric portion 8|, said extension or continuation IM being formed by refolding the textile fabric element to form a double thickness edge portion for connection to the wire link bed spring fabric and then again refolding or tuming the portion Hit of the textile fabric more or less in continuation of the normal plane of the portion ll and attaching said extension portion Illl to the upper edge of the front board structure 14. In the extended or unfolded position ofthe bed bottom structure, said textile fabric portion IOI may be relatively loose but in the seatforming position of the bed bottom structure said portion IOI assumes a fairly taut position between the upper edge of the front board structure H and the front edge of the bed spring fabric section 8|. In this arrangement the cushions I 00 are adequately supported by flexible and resiliently supported fabric which contacts with the entire bottom area of the cushions. This is advantageous as compared with the supporting same being construed as broadly as possible consistent with the state of the art.

I claim:

1. A sofa bed of the class described comprising a main frame having a, back rest part, a foldable bed bottom having a section movable from a folded, vertically disposed position behind said backrest part 'to a horizontally disposed, bed position forwardly of said back rest part, means connecting said section to said main frame for such movement, and a mattress support comprising side members pivotally mounted intermediate their ends on said bed section, mattress supporting means extending between the outer porof cushions on wire link fabric, either with or without an interposed textile fabric section, in that the uniform, all-over support thereby provided, is better adapted to the supporting of both inner spring and felt or like packed cushions. Furthermore, the all-over support will not impress a noticeable design on the cushion if made of material embodying a long nap or of other material which will readily assume the imprint of any article with which it has engagement for any considerable length of time.

The described structure results in a sofa bed which may be easily and quickly converted from a sofa to a bed without requiring movement of the main supporting sofa frame structure. Also, the arrangement is such that in the folded condition the upwardly folded rear or head end portion of the mattress is effectively retained within the confines of the back rest of the sofa so that the sofa may be placed closely adjacent a wall without interfering with the unfolding of the bed sections.

The described arrangement for locking the rear end of the seat-forming section against upward movement serves in cooperation with the supporting roller 98 and supporting ection 34 to,

rigidly hold the section 35 in seat position so that rattling of the structure incident to a person's sitting down or getting up from the sofa is eftions of said side members, and links pivotally connecting the inner ends of the respective side members with said back rest part for effecting rocking of the outer portions of said side members and said mattress. supporting means upwardly and inwardly as an incident to folding of the bed bottom, said mattress support being thereby operative to hold an overlying mattress portion within the confines of said back rest frame part.

2. In a sofa bed of the class described, a plurality of foldably connected bed-bottom-forming sections, one of said sections, when in folded position, constituting a seat section, a front structure adapted to depend from adjacent the front edge of said seat section, mattress supporting means carried by said sections and comprising wire link fabric in certain of said sections and textile fabric in said seat section, said wire link and textile fabrics having interconnected terminal edges adjacent the line of folding connection between said seat section andthe adjacent section but spaced rearwardly from said front structure, said textile. fabric having a. flap part folded rearwardly so as to provide a two-ply. folded edge portion for attachment to said wire link fabric, said ,flap being refolded forwardly into overlying relation to the connections between said fabrics and having its front edge secured to said front structure.

3. A sofa bed of the class described comprising a normally stationary frame, a bed bottom comprising pivotally connected sections, means for moimting said sections on said frame for movement from substantially co-planar bed position to folded, sofa position whereby one of said sections moves laterally rearwardly into said folded position, and means engageable by said one section as an incident to its said lateral rearward movement for locking said section against upward-movement from folded position.

4. A sofa bed of the class described comprising a normally stationary frame, a foldable bed bottom comprising a section which, when the bed bottom is folded, constitutes a seat section, there being one or more other sections foldably connected to said seat section, means for mounting said bed bottom on said-frame for movement from substantially co--planar bed position to folded, sofa position whereby the rearward portion of said seat section moves laterally rearwardly to said folded position, and means on the rearward portion of said seatsection and said said seat section for locking said rearward portion of the seat section against upward movement from seat position.

5. A sofa bed of the class described comprising a normally stationary frame, a foldable bed bottom comprising a section which, when the bed bottom is folded, constitutes a seat section, there being one or more other sections foldabl con-- nected to said seat section, means for mounting said bed bottom on said frame for movement folded, sofa position whereby the rearward portion of said seat section moves laterally rearwardly to said folded position, a fixed member mounted on said frame, and means-carried by the rearward portion of said seat section and movable under and engageable with said fixed member as an incident to the lateral rearward folding movement of said seat section for locking said rearward seat section portion against upward movement from seat position.

6. In a sofa bed of the class described, the combination of a plurality of bed bottom sections connected together so as to be foldable from and to sofa-forming position respectively to and from bed position, one of said sections constituting a sofa seat section when the sections are in sofaforming position, a front member connected to certain of said sections and depending from adjacent the front edge of said seat section when in sofa position, mattress supporting fabric in said sections which, in the seat section, is also operative to support a seat cushion when the sections are in sofa-forming position, the arrangement being such that said fabric, when the sections are in sofa-forming position, is spaced from the upper edge ofsaid front member, and a fabric element connecting the upper edge of said front member and the front portion of the cushion supporting fabric in said seat section when in sofa-forming position, said fabric element serving to provide seat cushion support intermediate the fabric in said seat section and the upper edge of said front member.

7. In a sofa bed of the class described, the combination of a foldable bed bottom frame comprising a pair of sections of substantial width and a relatively narrow hinge section interposed between said pair of sections and pivotally connected at its ends respectively to said sections, bed spring fabric extending from end to end and from side to side of said bed bottom frame, means connecting the periphery of said bed spring fabric to the adjacent portions of said bed bottom frame, said bed bottom frame and fabric being foldable from co-planar bed position to sofa from substantially co-planar bed. position to l forming position wherein one of the wider sections of the frame is disposed in relativel superposed relation to the other and said hinge section is disposed in upwardly extending position intermediate said other sections, a cover member normally overlying the space between the hingedly connected endsv of said wider sections, connections between said cover member and the bed bottom frame for causing the same to assume a position closely adjacent the pivotally connected ends of said bed bottom frame when folded and a position substantially spaced from said frame when unfolded, and means extending between the upper portion of said cover member and the adjacent portion of the bed spring fabric carried by the uppermost section of the folded bed bottom thereby to provide effective seat cushion supporting area intermediate the upper edge of said cover member and said bed spring fabric in the folded position of the bed bottom.

8. An article of furniture embodying a foldable bed bottom frame comprising a plurality of sections adjustable from substantially co-planar bed position, to collapsed position wherein one section is disposed in approximately horizontal seat position, a second section depends from the front edge of said seat section, and a third section extends rearwardly under said seat section from said second section, bed spring fabric exv tending from end to end and from side to side of v said foldable bed bottom frame and foldable in accordance with the folding of said sections, means connecting the periphery of said bed spring fabric to the adjacent portions of said bed bottom frame, a cover member for covering the outside of said second section when in folded position, connections between said cover member and said bed bottom frame for causing the cover member to be substantially spaced from said second section when in bed position and to assume a position closel adjacent said second section when in folded position, and means extending between the upper portion of said cover member and said bed spring fabric in the forward portion of said seat section when in seat position, said means serving in cooperation with the bed spring fabric in said seat section to support a seat cushion when the bed bottom is in folded position. 

